JonJan 131 min3D printed Ultra Micro RC is Here. Welcome to the BlackbirdAt the end of last year I wrote a blog post about what I wanted to see in 2021. One of the things was some 'UMX' style models. I love des...
JonJan 71 minFusion 360 Drawings and Calculating CG'sI've been working on a few new projects as well as updating the Avanti for a proper release. Today I built a couple of foam board chuck g...
JonOct 13, 20203 minWhat 3D Printer Should I Buy?I get many messages asking me which 3D printer to buy so I thought I would write a blog post with my view. I have been 3D printing for a w...
JonSep 17, 20201 minHow to 3D Print an Aircraft - Series 2 Part 9 - Shelling the FuselageIn this episode I shell the central fuselage sections. Rather than simply using the shell tool in the first instance I split the fuselage...
JonSep 14, 20201 minHow to 3D Print an Aircraft - Series 2 Part 6 - Quickie - Cowling and Motor MountEpisode 6 focuses on the motor mounting and cowl. I have stopped cutting out holes in the firewall for mounting screws as often motor mou...
JonSep 10, 20201 minHow to 3D print an Aircraft - Series 2 Part 4 - Elevator and AileronsPart 4 of our build, cutting out the elevators and ailerons and including a hinge line. Plenty of trial and error on show with the elevat...
JonSep 9, 20201 minHow to 3D Print an Aircraft - Series 2 Part 3 - Quickie Winglet and Main GearThis episode brings you the aft wing winglet, constructed using a sweep on a 3D sketch. It shows you how sometimes you need to think about h
JonSep 8, 20201 minHow To 3D Print an Aircraft - Series 2 Part 2 - Rutan QuickieEpisode 2, today we have built the wings. There is nothing groundbreaking in my fusion use today, I mostly used simple functions such as ...
JonMay 19, 20203 minThe Ferrari of the Skies - Piaggio AvantiSeveral years ago, my day job was flying corporate jets around. For a few years I sat in the left hand seat of a Learjet 45. It was a gl...
JonMay 15, 20202 minNew Project - Grumman X-29I have recently shared a few new or ongoing projects and I thought I would share another. I started this one back in December. It took a ...
JonMay 13, 20204 minHow to 3D Print an Aeroplane - Maiden Flight (ish) - Skymaster free to downloadWith the easing of the UK lockdown restrictions I had an opportunity to try and take the Skymaster for its maiden flight. I had some conc...
JonMay 10, 20202 minNew Project - Grumman MallardEver get an idea and feel so excited about it that you simply have to stop what you're doing and flesh it out a bit? This often happens t...
JonMay 9, 20201 minNew Project - Returning the LoPresti Fury to FlightWith the Cessna 337 finished but lockdown continuing its time for a new project. I have a couple of other projects going on in the backgr...
JonMay 6, 20203 minHow to 3D Print an Aeroplane - Build Complete + Discussion on Propeller PitchAfter a frantic start where I could achieve a lot in a short space of time the design process slowed to a halt due to running out of PLA....
JonApr 27, 20202 minHow to 3D Print an Aeroplane - Day 17 - Making Test Parts and Some Early Print TroublesMaking Test Parts and Some Early Print Troubles
JonApr 23, 20202 minHow to 3D print an Aeroplane - Day 16 - First Print!The tiny part for my printer I needed finally arrived and I have set off on the first print of our prototype. I started with the aft firew...
JonApr 22, 20204 min9 Ways To Get More Lift (Or Lose It) - Lift AugmentationEver since I was a kid with a window seat I have been fascinated but the mechanical goings on of the wings. Even now as an airline pilot,...
JonApr 20, 20204 minHow to 3D Print an Aeroplane - Day 15 - 3D Printer settingsOk, my printer is still broken, despite attempting a short-term epoxy fix. My replacement parts are still are not here but due in the nex...
JonApr 17, 20203 minHow to 3D Print an Aeroplane - Day 14 - Wing Loading, WCL & Why Elephants Can't FlyThe first iteration of the model is compete and it's time to start printing... Unfortunately my printer is has broken under the strain of...
JonApr 16, 20202 minHow to 3D Print an Aeroplane - Day 13 - Housekeeping or Threat and Error ManagmentWe are nearly there. It's almost time to start printing our aeroplane. One of the reasons I enjoy modelling, be it with a 3D printer and ...
